Avalanche forecast

Waterton Lakes

Dec 18 – 21, 2025Avalanche Canada
View on map
Archived · expired 9 months ago

Avalanche danger

Sat
Sun
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
Open full map

Highlights

Stormy weather continues through the weekend with lower freezing levels. Careful travel and snowpack assessment will be required, as conditions vary drastically by elevation band. Below treeline will still be very thin with early season hazards like stumps logs and rocks.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–2.5

    In more sheltered areas storm snow may behave as dry loose.

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely - Possible
    Size
    2–3

    May be a concern if recent windslabs step down through the bridging crust.

Confidence

Moderate

  • Uncertainty is due to limitations in the field data.

Avalanche Summary

No new avalanches observed however limited observations since Wednesday.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 40cm of new snow has been redistributed by strong to extreme winds in the alpine and at treeline. This sits atop a new crust from this weeks warm weather and rain. Our midpack is 80-100cm of refreezing snow. At 1700 m and above, the base of the snowpack consists of a series of crusts and facets to the ground. Below 1700 m the snowpack still very thin and some areas will only have this most recent storm snow on ground.

Weather Summary

Thurs

Snow begins in the afternoon up to 10cm overnight. Alpine high -5°C with strong to extreme SW winds.

Fri

Snow continues through the day 5cm. Alpine high -5°C with winds decreasing to moderate SW

Sat

Snow through the day 5cm. Alpine high -5°C with moderate SW winds.

For current weather forecast, please see Mountain Weather Forecast

Current ECC weather table can be found Here

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be careful with wind-loaded pockets, especially near ridge crests and rollovers.
  • If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.

Regions covered